SOS Outreach

SOS Outreach, an organization devoted to promoting snow events among the underprivileged youth, has already started getting ready for next year’s event, despite Mt. Hood still being caught under 16 feet of snow! SOS Outreach has been establishing itself in Oregon and in the winter of 2007-2008, nearly 100 participants took part in various snowboarding events in Central Oregon.

SOS now plans to start a five-day ‘learn to ride’ program. This program offers professional skiing and snowboarding lessons, snow gear and all other necessary items. The program also wishes to promote values such as integrity, discipline, courage, wisdom etc. Students who complete the program are offered the choice of continuing with SOS for an additional four years. In order to do this, they must complete a ‘University’ program put forward by SOS.

SOS has been able to motivate underprivileged youth and host successful programs due to their carefully-chosen partnerships with local mountain resorts and youth agencies. In the 2007-2008 winter session, Mt. Hood Skibowl became the third resort, after Mr. Hood Meadows and Timberline, to donate lift tickets, equipment rentals, and snowboard instructors to SOS. Counselors and students from Portland Youth Builders, Mt. Scott Learning Centers, Reynolds Learning Academy and Janus Youth Programs, all showed active participation in the program.

Megan Barrett, a Mt. Scout Learning Center’s teacher, highlights the positive aspects of the SOS program- “SOS encourages my students to support one another, and also teaches them self-reliance and discipline. It’s incredible to watch students go from worry and doubt to happiness and pride when they make it down the hill for the first time without falling. Through SOS, these kids learn that they are the type of people who are capable of anything.”

The ski season of 2007-2008 marked the 8^th year for SOS in Oregon. And SOS Outreach wishes to have many more such successful years.

World Rookie Fest

Swatch TTR came out with yet another successful snowboarding event; the 3-Star Völkl World Rookie Fest which once again showcased an assortment of snowboarding talent. The event took place just last weekend with Norwegian snowboarder Gjermund Braaten cruising away with first place. He received 550 TTR Ranking Points, giving him a TTR World ranking of 53 and also the title of World Rookie Champion 2008.

Braaten showcased impressive riding; awing the judges and crowd with a huge switch BS7 and a Cab 9. In addition to TTR ranking points and a world champion title, Braaten was also awarded with a ticket to the Nokia Air and Style rookie challenge in Munich, a trip to Canada for featuring in the next Pirate Movie Production, ‘Boarbegged’ and a ‘Fresh Meat’ profile in Method Snowboard Magazine.

This event was the last of the season adorned with a slopestyle set up with two kickers and several rails. The judges allotted scores to the riders based on a three-run format. The riders had to give an overall impression on both the kickers and rails.

Despite Braaten winning, the best trick was performed by Petja Piiroinen from Finland. His huge BS 7 on the 20 meter kicker was a visual treat. Italian rider Giorgio Ciancaleoni performed a series of 720s on the kickers, one of the most impressive rail tricks and a 270 on the kink, landing him in the second overall position among the male rookies.

A majority of the finalists walked home with prizes, despite not getting a winning position. They won tickets to the World Rookie Fest 2009 in Livigno. Dimi de Jong and Maria Delfina Maiocco, who were voted upon as the best male groms, received a Golden Card enabling them to join every World Rookie Fest of 2009 for free! Among the female rookies, Kari Maeland of Norway came out victorious with her TTR world ranking now being pushed up to 35.

So the World Rookie Fest 2008 finished things off with a bang!

North Face Ski Challenge

The North Face Ski Challenge Tour is an event open to all residents of Europe between the ages of 12 and 18 years. This youth-dedicated event is the only one which mixes free ride and freestyle. The event concluded just last weekend in Val Thorens, with the winner of the final walking away with a two-year sponsorship contract with the North Face.

Throughout winter, 350 hopefuls from Europe gave it their all, hoping to qualify for the tour finals. Over the weeks, the number of participants started increasing rapidly. Finally, 73 young skiers from 11 nations across Europe were selected to take part in the tour finals held on April 12^th and April 13^th. These 11 nations included the UK, Finland, Italy and Switzerland.

Director of the Club des Sports in Val Thorens, Vincent Hudry said, “We believe that the North Face Ski Challenge has the potential to reach a young, new public and demonstrate to the snow sports world how big hidden talents can be. This is, in fact, totally coherent with what we’ve been doing for years during the Boarder Week. This is why this will be our only ski event.”

Sweden’s Tom-Oliver Hedvall was the top finisher in the ‘king’s’ category (16-18 years), and walked away with the sponsorship contract. After hearing the final result, a partly fazed Hedvall said, “I can’t believe this is happening to me. This is like the most magical dream come true. I’m very excited to see what this is going to bring me over the next few years…!” Apart from a kit, the North Face contract also involves helping develop Hedvall’s potential to the fullest, exposing him to the international pro rider scene and gathering support to help him enter other relevant free ski events in the coming winter seasons.

So congratulations Europe, you have once again discovered your skiing ‘king’.